This week's most pressing news from Japan covers Fukuda's run as PM so far. To have scandals in his cabinet this early on is not looking good for Fukuda. One scandal involves close ties between a former deputy defence minister and a defence contractor. I'm not entirely certain what this scandal is about, in detail. It simply mentions that they played "dozens" of golf games together. My guess is that a golf game is considered on par with a secret meeting (badumpsch). Another involves whether or not the Japanese navy is refueling US ships being used in Iraq. Currently, the Japanese mission only supplies ships that are operating in Afghanistan. Providing support to Iraq-bound ships would violate the law currently in place that allows the mission in the first place. Both scandals, especially so early on, could really offset Fukuda's attempt at effectiveness as PM.